Article Sidebar

Trending

Article content

Protesters shut down traffic on major bridges across Canada on Monday as they joined in an international day of action meant to galvanize governments into taking more urgent action on climate change.

In Calgary, about 50 people took to the intersection of 10th Street N.W. and Memorial Drive N.W. between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., with some wearing gas masks and clanging bells, and others holding handmade signs.

The group started by filling the crosswalk when the light was red for oncoming traffic, then intermittently blocked the street during green lights, which prompted some waiting drivers to lean on their horns, or to flash angry gestures at the crowd as they drove by.

Multiple police members observed the protest and helped with traffic control as demonstrators blocked the street or stood in groups on the sidewalk. Before the event concluded, the group staged a final action from the middle of the intersection, blocking traffic in all directions for one traffic light.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Protesters block traffic at the Louise Bridge at the intersection of 10th Street and Memorial Drive N.W. on Monday afternoon.

Andy Kubrin, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Calgary, said the aim of the protest was to “draw attention to the climate emergency that we are facing and press our demand for appropriate and speedy government action.”

Kubrin said Extinction Rebellion’s three demands are for government to “level with the Canadian people about the degree of warming that is expected and its effects;” to decarbonize the economy as quickly as possible, with a specific call for a net-zero economy by 2025; and to “move beyond politics” and enact citizens’ assemblies to work with technical experts and come up with binding recommendations for the government.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

The Calgary activists planned to communicate with motorists directly and to offer Timbits “in the spirit of goodwill,” Kubrin said.

“I’d say the message is, ‘We want people’s attention and we want them to know how important this is,'” he said before the protest started. “We regret the small inconvenience that we are going to pose, but we believe it’s necessary.”

Kubrin said the Calgary group just formed in the spring and summer. With outreach efforts now underway, he expects the group’s membership to grow.

Monday’s event in Calgary was part of a global protest.

Activists with the environmental group Extinction Rebellion also blocked traffic on spans in Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal and Victoria.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

The Canadian protests did not attract the same numbers seen in some European cities, where hundreds of activists turned out in force, but nonetheless sparked anger among people caught up in major traffic delays.

Extinction Rebellion members usually sit or lie down in front of traffic until they are arrested and taken away by police officers. Such a scene played out in cities around the world throughout Monday, although some saw more dramatic efforts.

Protesters in New York doused the city’s famous charging bull statue with fake blood as part of their disruption.

Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city.

In Paris, hundreds either locked arms or chained themselves together in the city’s central square, while in Berlin about 1,000 people gathered before dawn to block the Grosser Stern, a traffic circle in the middle of the German capital’s Tiergarten park.

Founded in Britain last year, Extinction Rebellion, also known as XR, now has chapters in some 50 countries. The group said the protests Monday were taking place in 60 cities worldwide.

Share this article in your social network

Trending

Related Stories

This Week in Flyers

Article Comments

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Notice for the Postmedia Network

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.